Canberra's 2026 Australia Day Honours: Celebrating Diverse Excellence
The 2026 Australia Day Honours list reveals the remarkable diversity of achievement within the nation's capital. From climate science pioneers to Indigenous elders, community volunteers to linguistic scholars, this year's recipients embody the multifaceted nature of distinguished service in the ACT. Their stories demonstrate how excellence manifests across countless fields, each contribution weaving into the rich tapestry of Canberra's community fabric.
Legal Luminary: Noor Blumer AM
Noor Blumer's appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia recognises her significant service to law, the legal profession, and community. The co-founder of a prominent Canberra law firm has dedicated her career to advocating for equality within legal circles. Her journey from being a teenage mother to becoming a respected legal figure highlights her resilience in a profession that hasn't always been welcoming to diverse backgrounds.
"I burst into tears when I learned about the honour," Blumer revealed. "I was terribly chuffed and grateful to have had opportunities to contribute meaningfully." Her courageous decision to speak publicly about inappropriate behaviour by a former High Court judge in 2020 demonstrated her commitment to professional integrity and support for fellow lawyers.
Language Guardian: Bruce Moore AO
Bruce Moore receives recognition for distinguished service to linguistics and Australian English scholarship. As former director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at ANU, Moore championed the preservation and study of Australia's unique linguistic heritage. His work became particularly poignant when the centre faced potential closure during university budget cuts, sparking nationwide support that ultimately saved this important institution.
"The reaction to the centre's possible closure surprised even me," Moore noted. "People across Australia and internationally rallied to support our work documenting Australian words and their historical usage." From tracing the origins of "fair go" to documenting cadet language, Moore's passion for words has enriched our understanding of Australian identity.
Children's Literature Champion: Stephanie Owen Reeder OAM
Stephanie Owen Reeder's Medal of the Order of Australia honours her service to children's literature. With thirty published books and counting, the Canberra author has dedicated decades to making Australian history accessible and engaging for young readers. Her Heritage Heroes series exemplifies this mission, transforming historical narratives into compelling stories about real people.
"It's lovely to receive this honour for something you absolutely love doing," Reeder shared. Having begun writing children's stories at age seven before working as a Hansard editor for twenty-three years, she nearly missed the honour notification email, initially suspecting it might be a scam targeting authors.
Canberra Visionary: Brett Odgers OAM
Brett Odgers receives recognition for service to history preservation, planning, and the Canberra community. Born in Canberra in 1939, Odgers has devoted his life to nurturing the city's unique character and advocating for Walter Burley Griffin's original vision. As former chair of the Walter Burley Griffin Society, he worked tirelessly to protect Canberra's distinctive planning heritage.
"My aim is to hold the vision of Canberra as the national capital to account," Odgers explained. "Griffin had a bloody good vision, and history has proved him right." His work celebrates Canberra not just as a city but as Australia's greatest social experiment in democratic urban planning.
Community Heart: Tony Morris OAM
Tony Morris is honoured for service to the Canberra community. The former Bruce Stadium manager has spent thirty-seven years coordinating the jam and preserves competition at the Royal Canberra Show, alongside countless other volunteer roles. From volunteering with the Hall Men's Shed to serving as a justice of the peace and volunteer firefighter, Morris embodies community spirit.
"I was absolutely stunned - voiceless for a minute," Morris said of learning about his honour. His commitment to community service began in childhood, inspired by volunteers who coached his football team. "My aim has always been to keep the community together," he emphasised.
Indigenous Elder: Matilda House OAM
Matilda House receives a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous communities in the Canberra region. The Ngambri elder, one of the original campaigners for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in the 1970s, has been instrumental in Indigenous advocacy and advisory work for decades. She performed the first ever Welcome to Country in Parliament House in 2008.
"Being nominated for this is wonderful - a way of saying thank you for doing those things," House reflected. "I'm a very proud Ngambri woman, and what a journey my life has been!" Her work has helped make Canberra's Indigenous community more visible and heard.
Climate Pioneer: Peter Cook AC
Peter Cook becomes a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to science as an innovator in carbon capture and storage. As a pioneer in climate change mitigation, Cook's work has gained increasing recognition as climate concerns have moved to mainstream consciousness. His contributions extend to Antarctic geography, with a range named in his honour, and to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize-winning climate work.
"Some of the things I've been slaving on all these years seem to have finally gotten recognition," Cook observed. Beginning his carbon capture research in 1991, he faced initial skepticism but persevered to establish Australia's research program in this critical field. "I'm delighted to see it's finally getting the recognition it needs," he concluded.
These seven remarkable individuals represent just a portion of the excellence recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. Their collective stories remind us that distinguished service takes countless forms, each contributing to making Canberra - and Australia - a more compassionate, knowledgeable, and resilient community.
